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A review by mctmama
Close Your Eyes, Hold Hands by Chris Bohjalian
4.0
I finished this book yesterday, and I am still thinking about it. I received the ARC at the recent PLA convention, and began reading it while I was still there! I love the writing of Chris Bohjalian - and in this novel, he opens your eyes to another world that exists in the shadows of our daily lives - the homeless.
Sixteen-year-old Emily Shephard finds herself on the run when the Nuclear Power plant that her father is in charge of melts down. Bewildered by the possible loss of her parents, her pet dog, her home, and everything familiar to her, she bolts when she begins to hear the onslaught of vitriolic comments directed at her parents. Emily's struggle to stay alive on the streets will break your heart. It will make you actually feel squeamish at times - it is eye opening to face what choices a desperate teen will make to survive and cope. I was amazed at how well the author Chris Bohjalian captured the voice and thought patterns of sixteen year old Emily. It is difficult to read at times, because her thought pattern is disjointed, but it works. I would recommend this book to older teens, due to mature content and language.
Sixteen-year-old Emily Shephard finds herself on the run when the Nuclear Power plant that her father is in charge of melts down. Bewildered by the possible loss of her parents, her pet dog, her home, and everything familiar to her, she bolts when she begins to hear the onslaught of vitriolic comments directed at her parents. Emily's struggle to stay alive on the streets will break your heart. It will make you actually feel squeamish at times - it is eye opening to face what choices a desperate teen will make to survive and cope. I was amazed at how well the author Chris Bohjalian captured the voice and thought patterns of sixteen year old Emily. It is difficult to read at times, because her thought pattern is disjointed, but it works. I would recommend this book to older teens, due to mature content and language.